Is it the end of an era for the department store?

Now that we all compare prices on-line, is there any way the expensive jack of all trades department store can survive?

I must admit, cutting through the heavily scented beauty department to get anywhere else in store is enough to turn me round. Having said that, I've bought a TV and a couple of microwaves from John Lewis in the past.

My wife uses a couple of catalogue companies for home delivery of clothes as if we go to a department store they rarely have the size / colour required and suggest ordering online. It does seem a difficult time for high Street stores, coupled with high business rates and Amazon paying little tax

Living as we do in a rural part of the country department stores are still something of a novelty. The wife finds them something of a treat and I will tolerate them as long as they have a cafe with a decent cup of coffee where I can read my newspaper.

Living as we do in a rural part of the country department stores are still something of a novelty. The wife finds them something of a treat and I will tolerate them as long as they have a cafe with a decent cup of coffee where I can read my newspaper.